Wrapping up 2013

I'd like to finish off the year by writing about my top ten runs, like I did last year, but truth be told, 2013 was not exactly one of my best years, running-wise. Plagued with injuries and burn out, there were only a few shining moments of 2013 worth mentioning. Of course the greatest run of the year was my one and only marathon, the Newport Oregon marathon. My second favorite was not just one single run, but the weekly tempo runs Ginna and I ran on the Luke's Locker Wednesday morning runs in the summer. I really miss those and can't wait to get back to them! Running in Central Park was special. I ran past the Fred Lebow statue, which is especially meaningful to me because when I ran the NYC marathon in 1992 it was the year he also ran it with Grete Waitz. (He was the founder and race director of the marathon and died of brain cancer 2 years after finally running his race). I'm excited about being injury free and able to run in the upcoming Loop the Lake on the last day of this year! I am always grateful for every single run, good or bad--even my DNF at a half-marathon this year was somewhat of a fun "adventure" trying to get back to the finish line via multiple car rides of sorts. I was originally with the police escort, but he had to stay back and check on the "banana", a runner in a banana costume seemed to garner a lot of concern, so I hobbled out along an abandoned side street until a volunteer truck came by and let me hop in the back. That injury ended up being a dreaded "long term" injury with my marathon training coming to an abrupt end. Gels, electrolyte pills, bottle carrier, all of it left untouched as the marathon came and went. Even when I look back on the beginning of the year I recall that I started off with an injury, and then another! I was dragging my marathon training out further and further. My April marathon plans were foiled by family matters, so once again, the marathon training was extended until I finally ran Newport in June. The problem with burn out is it is not as easy to pick up on as a nagging potential injury. It's especially hard to pick up on in the summer, when quality running is hard to come by as it is. Well, looking back I can clearly see that I didn't have enough recovery between Newport and the ramp up for the next marathon. The long term injury was waiting to happen, and when it did happen, for the first two weeks my body didn't seem to mind the break at all. Most unusual. I must say that it is really hard to have a DNF in a race, and even harder to watch your friends run the marathon without you 3 weeks later, but gratitude grows. Some people have commented that it has to do with my age until I remind them that I have been straddling the injury/peak line for over 20 years now. The problem is as you get older the line moves. It's harder to tell what you can get away with. The short answer is, a lot less. I'd like to say I'm going to run "smarter" next year and continue to do my new stretching routine after every run (so far so good), but I struggle with playing it safe, so we shall see. As a matter of fact I am into week 1 of marathon training...here we go again! Here's to 2014 and I will see you on the road!

Marathon #27: Santa Barbara Marathon 2009

Here is my write-up from the inaugural running of the Santa Barbara marathon in December of 2009. It was my fourth marathon for the year and probably not the smartest move, especially since after the marathon an MRI revealed I had a fracture on my ischium. (Google it). Still, I am glad I did it, even though no, having the option to do it again, NO! OK, maybe..
FYI the marathon didn't survive. I think it ran for a few years, but never improved the course or gained in popularity.

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Pre-marathon: My left leg had been an issue since before the Hartford marathon in October, and had gradually gotten worse. After the Turkey Trot my left butt cheek went on strike. Its protest sign read "NO MORE RUNNING". Sure enough, a week later, Thursday's attempt to run resulted in a painful 3 mile hobble, which gave a grim outlook. I massaged it was best I could, took Celebrex, and hoped for the best. Toby said I was taking it well, but it's hard to try to garner sympathy when you are going on a vacation to Santa Barbara! Besides, there have been times where being injured turned out to be a blessing (Quebec)...

We got to Santa Barbara, met up with Ginna's dad, and ate fish tacos on the beach at Shoreline Cafe (thanks Christine Shirer for the tip).  We were  literally on the beach, with our chairs in the sand. And this is December? Santa Barbara, for those who don't know, is heaven. (Heaven is short for perfect weather all the time, palm trees, ocean, cyclists with bike lanes to ride in, and fresh seafood.)

Saturday morning before heading to the expo I went out for the "test run". The strike was over, and all that was left was the "normal" left leg pain, so this was when I applied the Kathy Murgas principle: "NOT running the marathon would be more painful". So yay! I'm running a marathon tomorrow!

Expo was small but good. They seemed to be on the ball for a first annual. (And in conclusion, yes they were, in many ways). No tech top--short sleeved cotton tee only. But I did buy a tech top with a women's cut, yay!  I also made a race volunteer describe to me what the finisher's medal looked like. Race motivation! ;)

Race day: Lori, Ginna, and I are ready to roll by 6:30, but the race is delayed by 30 minutes. Oh well, more time to chat with Lori, as we'll never see her again after the start! ;) 

 I know I won't like the first half of this race, so I am trying to mentally get past that. First of all, it's rural and not so scenic, and secondly, it loops back around itself past the starting line, to where the runners repeat a good 4 miles of the course before finally heading towards Santa Barbara at mile 13. (Goleta, the start, is 13 miles north of Santa Barbara). This is really my only official complaint about this marathon. Five years in the making and this is what they came up with? Anyhow, finally, the show gets started--bye to Toby, only not for long, because Toby was everywhere on the course! He was worried my mind-over-matter would fail me, so he stayed close, which means this one would be well documented with pictures, videos, and live Facebook updates! He had "command central" going on in the Kia rental!

Sure enough, the first half was work. Ginna was chatting away, I'd see a hill ahead and go, "&*#@" and she'd be like ??? I was so crabby! Ginna got me through that first half of the marathon, folks. NO DOUBT. Funny thing on the first half: Randy Tinney, who used to live in Dallas, now lives in Santa Barbara. Well he's marshaling on the course. We run by and he yells at me, "faster faster". If you guys remember a cyclist who would taunt me like this at White Rock, yes this was him! Too funny! (We had met up with him Friday night for beers and he told us how much he loved living in Santa Barbara).

So FINALLY we get to mile 13, NEW scenery! Yes Ginna I did look left and see the goats the first and second time, but enough already! ;)  Oh, and for the record, Santa Barbara is freaking hilly!! So the challenge began here with the hills, but now my little rain cloud in my head was gone, and dare I say we were having fun??? Here is proof:

Ginna would charge the hills, and I'd gradually come back to her. We did this all the way to the big hill at mile 23-24.  I caved, and had to take walk breaks, but she charged the whole thing! Crossing this was the ridge back into Santa Barbara, so you knew crossing it would be bad, but the breath-taking view from here to the finish was SO WORTH EVERYTHING! A screaming downhill finish, with ocean on one side and mountains on the other--just spectacular! I was trying to catch Ginna, but couldn't and didn't know what to yell at her to tell her I was there, so I just reunited with her in the finish chute! (4:03, 4:04, about 4 seconds apart) We found Lori, (3:40!), chatted a little, but then quickly scattered in different directions.

Ginna up ahead

Later, Toby, Lori, Bob, and I ate seafood on the pier--didn't have time to hit the wineries, but Toby and I managed to make it out to a few on Monday before heading back to Dallas. Overall, a great, but too short vacation. It was great meeting Ginna's dad Mike and her half brother Marshall that she kept calling Jeremy. ;) We really fell in love with Santa Barbara and are seriously considering retiring there, somehow. $$$. Anyhow, in conclusion, I think this marathon is good and will only get better with a few tweaks of the course.   

October Marathon of the Month: Breakers Marathon, Newport, Rhode Island

It's actually called the "United Healthcare" Breakers marathon (and thank you sponsors for all that you give to the world of running in exchange for having your company name in the marathon title). Last time I checked nobody paid me for a name drop on my blog title, hence the omission. ;)

For those unfamiliar with Rhode Island (that would be all of us), Newport City is actually on an island called Aquideck in the southern coastal region of the state. It's known as a New England summer resort and also known for the famous Newport mansions, which the marathon runs by. Although undated, the results and reviews on marathonguide.com go as far back as 2005, making 2014 the 10th annual running of the marathon. I have contacted the race organizers for verification. (Stay tuned).

Ok so here are the stats:

Size:

Although the recent reviews read as if this marathon is suffering growing pains, the race results over the past three years have been about the same: Approximately 1000 for the full and 3,000 for the half marathon. This is a nice, manageable size, in my opinion.

Expo:

In the past the expo was held in a tent positioned next to a local running store, which seemed to be a non-issue until this year. I'm not sure why there were ridiculously long lines when the number of race entries didn't dramatically increase. At any rate, unless this changes, I wouldn't expect a large venue with a lot of participating vendors. For a marathon of this size that is expected! I always try to get to expos as early as possible, and in this case I would strongly suggest that.

Course:

Here is the course description taken from their web page:

The UnitedHealthcare Marathon and Half Marathon cover a rolling course on scenic Newport and Middletown roads. Starting by the water in downtown Newport, the course runs through some of the most scenic spots on Aquidneck Island, including along historic Thames Street in downtown Newport, around Fort Adams State Park, past Hammersmith Farm and the Newport Country Club, around scenic Brenton Point and Ocean Drive and past the famous Bellevue Avenue mansions. 

All three USATF certified races take advantage of Newport and Middletown's rich history and beautiful oceanside scenery to offer some of the most breathtaking runs in the country.

True, most people commented on how stunning this course is, but the most beautiful parts are on the first half of the course. The first half is a loop that runs back to the start, and the full marathon runs past the start/finish to run a series of out and backs in the opposite direction. I have done a few marathons that ran past the start/finish and it is not fun, so prepare mentally for this. (Seeing the start/finish and then the quietness after parting with the half marathoners). The second half is still quite nice scenery-wise though--just not as pretty. I'll take that.

Logistics:

The race starts and finishes downtown, but there appears to be parking issues, so they have a shuttle bus system for parking. Proper handling of this seems to be a challenging task for the race organizers, as there are many negative reviews with regards to long waits and race delays, so this is a negative...unless you stay at a hotel within walking distance to the start/finish, which is possible.  A race delay of 10-15 minutes may be expected. 

Swag:  

With a small race there won't be much in the way of race apparel for purchase, but the given tech tops and medals are fine. In fact, I love last year's medal, a Rhode Island state shaped medal, which is very unique. 

Post race party: 

Here is a picture of the finish area, which I think is sweet! There may or may not be "food" at the finish, so this could be a negative, but this is pretty much a non-issue for me. They don't mention beer though. :(

Destination Marathon: 

Newport is about 90 minutes from Boston, so traveling to this marathon is pretty easy. (And probably a nice, scenic drive from Boston too). Be warned: Newport is expensive! The host hotel rate is over $300 a night, yikes, won't be staying there! Other hotels in the area are cheaper. Marathon fee ranges from $80 to $110 on race day, which isn't too bad, considering how marathon prices keep going up! There are lots of things to see and do in Newport and the surrounding area: lighthouses, breweries, museums, historical monuments and structures, and great seafood restaurants.

One more thing: Next year this marathon is slated to be Kathy Murgas' final 50 states marathon! We plan on making this race--planning on the full, but the half is a plan B if training goes awry! Regardless, the "post race celebration" will be epic I'm sure. Don't miss out.

Here is the link to the race web-site:

http://www.uhcmarathon.com/

Marathon #21: Portland Oregon Marathon 2007

Look at the fall colors in background

Luckily I have my original race recap to post, so I don't have to rely as much on my memory. The main thing that stands out over time is that Portland is an urban marathon. I think people come to this race expecting to run through rural areas surrounded by evergreens. For an Oregon marathon it can be labeled as ugly. I think that's fair. Portland could do a much better layout of their city as well, but  I really enjoyed this marathon, as I enjoyed traveling to Portland in general. Since I participated in the Hood to Coast relay 6 times I had been there quite often. (For those that don't know, the relay is about 200 miles in distance, and teams of 12 run from Mount Hood to Seaside, traveling through Portland about 1/3 of the way into the race). I came to run this marathon with Codi and Linda, with our significant others in tow.
So here is the recap:

Pre-marathon: 
The expo was crowded and chaotic, so we pretty much got in and out as fast as we could. Odd thing: We received high tech long sleeved Finishers shirts. They said "2007 Finisher on them". Later we had dinner at La Terrazza, which was great. 

Marathon morning:
Codi and I walked to where we said we'd meet Linda (at the 3:30 pace marker), and I told Codi, "I'll be right back". (I want to point out that I had no intention of returning...there was no way I was going to try to run that fast!) With 5 minutes to gun time I am still in a long line at the port-o-potties, but I am having a lovely conversation with an older guy who is running his first marathon. He is telling me all about the Northwest Passage Relay in Washington and how wonderful it is. (We are doing that relay folks!!!). I bailed on the port-o-potty and ran to the starting area. I was on the curb, trying to squeeze into the lone fence entry when the race started.

Marathon:
Crazy start--lots of turns initially. I tried to pretend the need to pee was just nervous energy until around mile 5 when I saw a port-o-potty door fly open. I nearly took out 2 runners as I lunged into it. After 20 marathons this is a first for me! I am literally staring at my watch ticking away precious seconds, and whoosh, I fly out of there like Superman. I have no idea where I am in regards to pace, missing 2 mile markers in addition to that moment of madness and the crowded start, and of course everyone and their mother is flying past me, freaking me out, until I calm down and get my head on right.
Doesn't it freak you out though? Like somebody with disco tights on or somebody who clearly carbo-loaded for 15 years, or somebody hunched forward like he's been ringing the bell tower-- they are all passing you???

There's an out and back for miles around 8-12 or so. We were warned it was ugly, but it was even uglier than ugly. Imagine warehouses on one side and abandoned railroad cars with graffiti on the other. The advantages were that you could see the lead runners and I managed to see Linda (missed Codi), and I saw that I was right behind the 3:45 pacer, so this was good. Also, a rainbow came out!

After that, the guys were there to cheer us on for the last time as we headed north. I told Toby, "no PR for me today. Having fun". I just didn't feel I had it in me to leave my comfy place and speed up to glob onto the 3:45 group. Besides, the climb was coming.

It's a nice long quiet stretch leading to the climb to St. John's bridge. The climb itself is pretty significant, and I'm guessing it's as long as a half a mile or more. On the way up I hear my name and look back and see Codi walking. She says she's ok and will finish and not to worry. But I still do, because I know her knee has been giving her grief in training, especially on hills. 

St. John's bridge was the highlight of the whole run. Even though it was an overcast day, you could still see the Cascades and see the river on both sides. SO PRETTY.

After the bridge we ran through residential areas alive and crazy with people all over, parties on front lawns, bands playing, cheer leaders, kids to high five, all kinds of stuff.  Portland really gets into the marathon. 

The run back into downtown had its moments of ugliness. We battled a head wind, especially across the Steel bridge. Some parts of the course were dreadful at this point, but my last marathon was Big Sur, so anything is ugly after that...and..it was those last few miles. Ugliness from within! As I approached the finish I realized I was going to hit it at yet another 3:51. AGAIN! I couldn't speed up and didn't want to slow down, so 3:51 it was. I found the guys and Linda, who told me how the 3:30 pacer blew them up. She still did a respectable 3:47, and Codi still came in with a 4:07 PR, so all was good!

The finish area was decent and not too crazy. We got out of there though, cleaned up, and headed out to Multnomah falls! From there we ate, walked to the top (and down--ouch), went into the lodge, parked ourselves in the couches by the fire and closed it down.

In conclusion, a great marathon and a great city to travel to. FUN TIMES.

Happy finishers!

The gang

Still "Embracing" the Heat?

So how's that heat embrace working out for you? We're halfway into September--just a few days away from Fall, but you wouldn't know it if not for the calendar! True, the heat was late in its arrival this year, but on the flip side it doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon. Sigh...The other day Juli pointed out that her marathon is in less than 3 weeks...which means Chicago (Sarah and Jeff) is in 4 weeks, which means Kansas City (Jamie, Ginna, Mark, Zelda, the ghost of Zac, and myself) is in less than 5 weeks. Yikes! Maybe the folks running West Virginia (Kathy and Mike) and NYC (Susan and Laura) will catch a break, but our chances aren't looking so good. Supposedly there's a "cold front" coming through before this Saturday's long run, but I can't even think about that. I have to mentally prepare for yet another wet, squishy, salty, painful, drippy slog.

Yes, the fissures are forming. Just yesterday someone cracked and started F-bombing. Not going to say who, but I will say I am glad that for once it wasn't me. I've come so close to losing it on a few runs that, as I have now come to expect, ended badly. Where a run becomes a test of will to make it from land mark to land mark without walking. Or crying. Or asking a cyclist if you can borrow their phone to call home.

I had a customer the other day who just moved here from Indiana. She's training for the Dallas marathon and was telling me that after her 16 mile run she had to sleep all day! Normal. She said she had to resort to buying a water bottle! Normal. She said she had to stop and walk because she felt "weird". Normal. She said her friends back home couldn't possibly understand what she's going through. I told her that she'll enjoy our winters. She said they had no problems running in the winter. They just bundled up in their fleece. They run in fleece!

Not to say it's been all bad. We have acclimated to a point where we move on auto pilot with our bottles, electrolyte pills, cold snappy rags and body glide. We have attacked every cooler in our path like a pack of crazed raccoons. Just ask the woman who tried to shoo us away from one one morning. We have "sheep dogged" each other, making sure that we were all OK in case the heat was getting the better of one of us on that day.  I think we've all had a few long runs that we've loosely labeled as successes.

What we've yet to realize is how tough we have become, not just physically, but mentally, due to the tremendous amount of positive energy we have had to tap into repeatedly throughout the summer. We may not realize it until marathon day, but we WILL realize it! And this heat WILL end! I just wish it would hurry the f*&%#  up. Sorry! Crack!

September Marathon of the Month: OASIS Montreal International Marathon, QC Canada

The Montreal marathon's history goes back as far as 1979 with 9,000 participants. It was held for the next 10 years, then disappeared until 2004. Last year the Competitor Group took over the race, adding the marathon to its famous Rock and Roll marathon series. Last year's total race participation was around 24,000. There are some people who are polarized over their opinion of Competitor Group and the Rock and Roll series events. I've only participated in one Rock and Roll marathon, and it was their very first marathon in San Diego back in 1998. Yes it was a disaster, but yes it was a blast! I don't particularly care for the larger, "hoopla" races, which is why I haven't done one since, but I've wanted to travel to Montreal since I last visited there briefly a few years ago. Last year's reviews on marathonguide are very good--it appears that Competitor Group has a handle on this race, so this marathon is now on my ever expanding marathon wish list.

The stats: This year's marathon is to be held on 9/22. In addition to the full marathon, there is a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and even a 1K. Word of warning: I found 10K and 5K reviews out there and they are bad! These 2 events are disorganized messes, which does not surprise me, as they are trying to juggle too many races (with different starting locations no less). The marathon and half marathon start together. Another word of warning in that the half marathon is the bigger draw. I am not fond of events where the marathon is the side bar event, but this situation is pretty hard to avoid these days. At any rate, I didn't see any complaints that are common in other races about half marathoners merging into the full or emptying out the finish line provisions, so hey.

The expo sounds decent, with Brooks having a presence there--always a good thing. Generic shirts and medals--typical of Rock and Roll events.

The race day logistics aren't too bad, with the start and the finish close together. (No shuttles!) The course appears to be interesting--with a great tour of some of the highlights of Montreal. The race starts on the Jacques-Cartier bridge and actually runs on Canada's Grand Prix F1 race course! Other interesting sights include: the Montreal Island, Old Montreal, the Botanical garden, and the Olympic stadium, which is a really unique building (see below)

Jacques-Cartier bridge

F1 circuit...minus the cars and fans

Olympic Stadium

Terrain-wise the course is pretty flat, and as far as spectators go, it can be sparse in the residential areas, but pretty lively for the most part. You may want to brush up on your french in order to understand the cheers, as French is the predominant language of Montreal. The post race party, held in La Fontaine Park, is reportedly a blast! This is to be expected with a Rock and Roll marathon, and here they appear to deliver.

A con would be the cost. Montreal is a pretty expensive city, and the marathon entry fees are high, but I do think this is a top destination marathon choice. If you have extra vacation time you can take a train to Quebec City and spend a few days there as well. Quebec has a European feel to it--sometimes you have to remind yourself that you are in Canada.

Here is the marathon link. Be sure to hit the "translate" button at the top!
http://ca.competitor.com/montreal

Finding Places to Run While Traveling

Finding places to run while traveling has always been an adventure, and our recent trip to Bellevue Washington was no exception. Four days of running led to somewhat lackluster routes, but not for a lack of trying!

Day 1: Headed south from the condo in Bellevue, on a search for Mercer Slough Nature Park, the only large "green spot" on the local map. Found the park, but quickly ran out of real estate there, as a one mile loop pretty much covered it, as far as I could tell. It was a well maintained trail, with either wooden planks or soft mulch for most of the footing. A lot of tall vegetation on both sides was a bit claustrophobic at times. I came across this sign, which pointed out that my one mile loop was actually called the Heritage trail, and that the farm land I saw was a blueberry farm. At any rate, so much for that--back to the condo I went.

Day 2: After studying the park map more closely, it looked like there was an exit to the park if one kept to the right after several intersections. Once out of the park, one could run several miles in either direction. Toby drove us to the park to start the run and off we all went to find the exit. I thought I was making progress until I recognized a sign I had passed earlier--I was traveling in a circle! After 2 1/2 miles of this madness my calves were screaming from the soft mulch so I became desperate to find this "exit". I ran to what I originally brushed off as a dead end the first time around and there it was! The glorious exit with asphalt, precious asphalt, heading in two directions. I headed south and found the I-90 trail, and from there I ran to Entai beach where I took these photos:

Upon returning I learned that Brett never found his way out and continued to run in circles. His calves were killing him the next day!

Day 3: I had Toby drop me off near the entrance to the I-90 trail so I could run and out and back along it, towards Seattle, and get some distance in. No adventures to be had here--the route pretty much ran parallel to the I-90 freeway as expected, but luckily most of the path was separated by a giant wall. There were a lot of commuters on bicycles. The only rough part was the part that crossed the water over to Mercer Island, as there was no giant wall separation from the freeway... During rush hour traffic. Ugh...I made it as far as the Mercer Island Park and Ride before I had to turn back. It would have been fun to have ran all the way to Seattle--I was only shy about 4 miles!

Day 4: Last day in Bellevue--a rainy morning and only time for a quick run. I decided to head north this time to take this photo of the place we had great sushi--just to prove that you can't judge a book by its cover!

From there I continued north to attempt to run in Kirkland, which is a really cool suburb, but the pedestrian path ended due to major construction. I didn't have time to be adventurous with a detour, so I turned back, thus ending my running adventures in Bellevue, Washington.

August Marathon of the Month: Reykjavik Marathon, Reykjavik Iceland

Reykjavik Marathon

Drastic temperatures cause for drastic measures. If you want to be guaranteed  a "cool" August marathon you may want to consider traveling north, as in WAY north, to Reykjavik Iceland. Reykjavik is the capital and largest city on Iceland, "a Nordic European island country" situated between Greenland and Europe. The highest recorded temperature sits at 79 degrees, bam!

Why run the Reykjavik marathon? I extracted the answer to this question directly from the race web-site:

There are several obvious reasons for foreign marathon runners to pick Reykjavik, not least the fact that the running conditions are usually extremely comfortable – the route is smoothly paved and very flat, while the weather tends to be breezy and in the mid-teens centigrade.

The atmosphere surrounding a race is also a hugely important factor for most runners, and the atmosphere at the Reykjavík race is electric. While the Icelanders would enthusiastically support the race anyway, it is actually planned to coincide with 'Culture Night' (Menningarnótt), a national event that brings up to a third of the entire population of Iceland onto the streets of the capital.

Another obvious reason to run is the city itself: the Viking name, Reykjavík, may literally translate as 'smoky bay', but the name in fact refers to the steam rising from Iceland's many geothermal springs. Reykjavík actually has some of the cleanest air of any city. Situated on a peninsula, water features heavily in the self-proclaimed 'Party Capital of the North', with the old-town even nestled around a large pond called Tjörnin. Teeming with birdlife, Tjörnin is like an oasis in the maze of old wooden houses covered in colourful corrugated iron that comprise downtown. Reykjavík has the very unusual feel of a modern international city trying to fit into a nineteenth century fishing village.

The race offers an atmosphere which is both relaxed and welcoming. Around 1,000 runners participate in the marathon and 2,000 in the half marathon, making both races less crowded than is generally the case in larger events. Since the Reykjavik Marathon also includes 10k, 3k fun run and children's run distances, it's also a family event.

Although only around 200,000 people live in the larger Reykjavik area, large crowds gather in the streets to support the runners. However, parts of the course pass through uninhabited areas where there are few spectators, instead giving the runners a chance to enjoy Iceland's natural environment and the spectacular scenery. The marathon passes through downtown Reykjavik, a residential area, near a salmon river, and along the beach.

So let's take a closer look at the stats for this marathon:

Course: As advertised, the course is pretty flat and scenic. It appears to be diverse, with city street portions, residential areas, bike paths, and scenic water views. It's a looped course, so logistically easy to navigate. 

Weather: The average high temperature is 58 degrees! The only issue that may arise could possibly be wind, but with the many turns on the course not too bad to deal with.

Expo: It appears to be a really small event with few vendors, as I would expect for a marathon of its size, and it appears to be far away from the city center, requiring bus or car travel.

So what would some of the negatives be? The biggest negative would be the cost. Not that the marathon itself is expensive, but apparently it's expensive in Iceland, and the air fare could be pricey as well.  Another negative is that the course is measured in kilometers, which isn't a huge issue if one isn't particularly concerned with pace, but I can imagine the brain work involved in conversions late into the run--could be maddening. There are some complaints on marathonguide.com that there are too few aid stations. I counted 9 water stops on the map, so yes, that would be fewer than I'd like, so this is something to consider. Others complained that there are areas of desolation, where there are no spectators and you don't feel like you are in a marathon. I get this sensation when I run on bike trails, which is probably the case here. Luckily, the course is varied enough to keep my interest--with scenery if nothing else.  Still, if you are into race hoopla this may not be a good choice for you. 

The best thing this race has going for it is the epic post race party! The "Culture night" involves fireworks, events in the arts and theaters, with festivities all along the city streets running well into the next day. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary, so this race has been around for quite some time. Interested?
Here is the link to the race web-site:
http://www.marathon.is/reykjavik-marathon

July Marathon of the Month: SOGONAPMIT Marathon, American Fork, Utah

Say what?
SOGONAPMIT is Timpanogos backwards. And? Ok, the Timpanogos is a half marathon which starts at the Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon Utah. It traverses down the canyon as the sun rises, providing spectacular views. The course is primarily downhill until it flattens out and heads into the outskirts of town. So....the marathon starts at the FINISH of the half marathon and runs the course backwards. It is timed such that the half marathoners are waiting for the full marathon participants to make it to the top before the half starts. The full marathoners are greeted by approximately 2,000 cheering people as they summit, then prepare to turn around and run their "2nd half" with the half marathoners on the way back down. Thus the marathon SOGONAPMIT.

As I read about this event my mind started racing with regards to crazy logistic issues. Like time. The half marathon starts at 6:00 AM! Yikes. The full marathon starts at 3:20 AM! You have 2 1/2 hours to complete the half (keeping in mind that it is primarily UPHILL as you leave town and head up the canyon and it's DARK).  I didn't even mention altitude. The Tibble Fork reservoir sits at over 6,000 feet. The town of American Fork is at about 4500 feet. Ouch. Marathoners are provided head lamps and are required to wear reflective vests. Carrying fluids is also suggested, as the aid stations are on the course, but not yet manned.  My mind couldn't get past how the pace timing was going to be handled for those that run the first half faster then 2 1/2 hours. (Not to mention having to stop running for a potentially lengthy amount of time before starting up again). Not that I think this would be an issue for ME, but reading further I see that it is chip timed, so I am assuming they take your chip times and add them at the finish. I have never heard any race like this before! Sounds crazy!

Ok so here are the stats:

2013 marks the third year for this race, and from the start it has been an organizationally top-notch race. The numbers from last year appear to be about 2000 people for the half, and only about 100 for the full. There doesn't appear to be an expo--merely a packet pick-up, which is disappointing. Still, the event appears to have a lot of sponsors for their race packets, and runners also receive gender-specific short sleeved tech tops.

The medals get rave reviews every year. This year's marathon medal appears to be a "spinner". Very big and colorful too. The race director has been quoted as saying, "It's all about the medal". This is my kind of race director.

Race day logistics seem pretty easy. The half marathoners take a bus up to the canyon start. I believe the full marathoners can have a bag taken to the top in order to drop off the "night time accessories" and pick up items for the 2nd half of the run.

Terrain wise, this would be an extremely difficult marathon, but one reviewer said, "the mountain isn't as visually intimidating in the dark", another person said it wasn't as hard as he expected, and another said the downhill 2nd half was incredible and went by fast. Finally one person practically screamed, "DO IT!"

I doubt there are any spectators on the course, but running with the half marathoners would make the 2nd half less lonely, and too, the scenery will make up for the loss of "hoopla", as always.

American Fork is a small town, but seems to have enough hotels and restaurants to make it work without having to stay in Provo (15 miles away) or Salt Lake City (a bit further away).  Getting to American Fork via Provo or Salt Lake City looks to be pretty simple too.

Weather-wise, it will most likely be hot and dry, with the lows in the 60's and the highs in the 90's, but it will be considerably cooler in the canyon before sunrise, and running the first half in the dark will be a blessing.

I'm not sure I can get up enough nerve to run this marathon, mainly because I am still scarred from the elevation battle during Utah's Wasatch relay. That HURT. I really like the race concept though, and I think it would be really unique to run the entire first half of a marathon in the dark. Everyone says that hitting the summit with the half marathoners cheering for you is incredible.

Here is their web-site: http://timphalf.com/

They also have a facebook page and several videos on you-tube.

So, interesting, yes! Do-able, yes! Maybe I should take the runner's advice and DO IT!

Embracing the Heat

Here we go again! Such is the torture of the Texas marathoner who has sights set on a fall marathon... Fall marathons require training in this gawd-awful heat! And let me tell you, it is tough, as in big-girl panties tough, as if training for a marathon isn't tough enough already. This is serious business. If you've never trained for a marathon in this heat, then listen up. I made a list of things to consider.

1. Pick a winter or spring marathon instead so you can train in weather fit for humans.

Yeah, I know, most of the good ones are in the fall. Here is just an example of what our group is training for: Chicago, New York City, Kansas City, St. George, and Twin Cities. Marathons in October and November are going to require most, if not all of your long runs to be in the heat. Just expect that.

2. If you insist on a fall marathon then get your head around the heat.

As Ginna and Sara say, "Embrace the heat".  Every year I tell myself that I am not going to crack--that I am going to hang tough and stay positive, knowing that the heat is only making me tougher, and if I lived on the west coast I'd turn into a wimp in no time--so pointless it would be to live where all you had were cool ocean breezes and marine layer fog and AHHHHH!!! I HATE TEXAS IN THE SUMMER!!! Crack....I crack every single summer, but hey, this year I vow to crack very very late into it....

3. You must CARRY FLUIDS.

Even if you are looping at the lake, where there is a water source every couple of miles you have to carry fluids. The other day I ran a loop (9 miles) with water stops AND my water bottle and when I got home I still lost 2 pounds. I am still training to drink more than I usually do--it's harder than you think to get this right. You must weigh yourself before and after the long runs initially to be sure you are drinking enough. You cannot compare yourself to your friends, as some sweat way more than others. Also, you need to get the electrolytes right. I take electrolyte pills and drink Gatorade. What I do works for me, but not necessarily someone else. You have to experiment with different products. So figure out how to carry your fluids, either hand-held or strapped on. If you think it's uncool, well you know what's even more uncool? You, lying on the side of the road.

4. Expect it to suck.

There will be long runs that will go OK and you will breathe a sigh of relief, like, "yeah I got this". And then the next run will leave you reduced to a whimper. It's just the way it is. Don't try to analyze it. Just accept it. Don't let it get at you mentally to where you think you need a "re-do" on the run because it was way slower or required a lot of walking. If you had to cut it short because you were feeling dizzy (and you do know that you need to STOP if you get dizzy right?), then here's an idea that has worked for me. If the heat is getting to me on a long run to where I am getting dizzy then I cut it short and finish the run on a treadmill in the gym. I've only had to do this twice, but I keep everything in the car just in case it happens. It is NOT FUN, but it gets done, and that's the name of the game here. The runs will be slower than you want. You will doubt your ability to run a marathon. At the very least you will doubt your marathon goal pace. I recall one summer where our first blast of cool air was when we arrived in Pennsylvania for the marathon! It's always nice to catch a break with a summer storm or an unexpected cold front, but don't count on it. When it happens though, euphoria!

5. Suffer with friends.

It's sick, but our summer runs are kind of fun. We have fond memories and wow, just crazy war stories from summer's past that leave us laughing now. And talk about bragging rights on how tough we are. I know I couldn't do it alone. I've had several  friends who, while telling me an engrossing story, got me through a very rough patch, or vice versa. We make interesting routes and pick up people along the way (called "fresh meat"). We have even broke out into song....I've had to run solo on some long runs and I can do it, but it is a lot harder. Still, sometimes if I am feeling bad I slow down and let the group go. Being by yourself during a rough patch is OK too if you need to slow down and take in whatever you need to get you back on track.

6. Things to try:

There are lots of products out there to test out, whether it be for chafing, keeping you cool, etc. Sara is carrying this towel called "Enduracool Instant cooling towel". She snaps it and amazingly enough it gets cold! I've also heard positive things about a sweat-activated cooling fabric by Columbia. There's also a lot to be said for ice baths--not just for faster recovery, but to help bring your core temperature down. One summer we had a small kiddie pool and some bags of ice waiting for us after our long runs. Maybe we need to do that again this year. I'm trying coconut water for pre-hydration this time around. With its high potassium content maybe I can back off on the bananas! Lots of fun stuff out there.

And so it begins...the training programs are written. The "Spring break" is over. Let's get to it!

Having fun?

June Marathon of the Month: Bay of Fundy International Marathon

This Sunday the Inaugural Bay of Fundy International Marathon will take place. First, a little geography lesson. You may need more than this little map to determine exactly where the bay of Fundy is, but the bottom line is the marathon starts and finishes in the state of Maine, and also runs along the bay within the province of New Brunswick, Canada.




From the marathon web-site: "We are a remote and rural marathon  in one of America and Canada's most quiet corners.  Our two beautiful places - Lubec, Maine and Campobello Island, New Brunswick - share shorelines, clean air, cool temperatures in June, and lighthouses that have guided the way for mariners for generations.  Starting at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the gently rolling course offers miles of water and harbor views.  Crossing from the USA to Canada by way of the FDR Memorial Bridge, the course takes runners past the FDR Summer Home in the Roosevelt Campobello International Park, through the scenic fishing villages of Welshpool and Wilsons Beach, to reach the northern tip of Campobello Island at the Head Harbour Lighthouse (also called East Quoddy Head).  The course then turns and retraces its steps back along the entire length of Campobello, back across the bridge into the USA, and finishes along Water Street at the Lost Fishermen's Memorial Park, in the heart of Lubec."

Years ago we did a week long cycling "Lighthouse Tour" in Nova Scotia, and one of our overnight campsites was in Digby, across the bay from where this marathon will run. Indeed, it is a quiet corner of the world, sometimes eerily so, but beautiful, oh so beautiful. And the seafood...after a week of cycling I actually gained weight. I specifically remember the scallops I had while in Digby-- to this day the best I've ever had. But I digress...

Race stats:

Number of entrants: I can't find any registration information on the web-site to indicate how large the field of marathon runners will be, or how much registration costs. In addition to the marathon there is also a 10K race, but again, I can't find any information on the web-site. I'll probably be able to get this information from the race results on Sunday, but I would assume the field would be rather small, making race day logistics pretty easy. It is noted that both the marathon and the 10K sold out before race day!

Race expo and swag: The expo is to be held at the Campobello Island Tourist Information Center (Canada), but the pasta and LOBSTER feed is in Maine. Best lobster I ever had was in Maine. I am a tad emotionally scarred from the experience of picking out the live critter from a tank and witnessing his transition from tank to plate right before my eyes though, so you may want to avoid that experience. Anyhow, this would be a pasta feed I'd recommend attending, given the convenience in a remote area.

Course: The majority of the course is an out-and-back, which some people don't like, but it does make for easier race day logistics. The scenery appears to be gorgeous throughout the entire race, and pretty flat too, with a few rollers on the elevation chart. Don't expect a lot of spectators or hoopla on this one!

Finish: The plan is to have a post race street party along the waterfront, which sounds like a blast.

Weather: This Sunday's forecast is 53 for a low, 71 for a high, with a 30% chance of rain. This is typical weather for this time of year, which is about as good as it gets for a marathon in the summer!

Destination choice: This is what I would consider a "bucket-list" place to visit, marathon or not. Bar Harbor Maine and Acadia National Park are nearby, with plenty of things to see and do.

Inaugural marathons scare me, as they have yet proven themselves, so it's best to wait until the first go round to give them time to correct their mistakes. Such is the plan for Kathy Murgas, who will be running this marathon NEXT YEAR as part of her 50 state quest, given of course, that this Sunday's run goes relatively smoothly. I will be checking for feedback on marathonquide.com and elsewhere. Fingers crossed, because it sounds like a marathon I'd like to add to my never-ending marathon wish list.

Here is a link to the race web-site:

http://www.bayoffundymarathon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=202

Marathon #35: Newport Oregon, June 1, 2013

The Newport Oregon marathon has been on my marathon wish list for a long time, but for some reason it never showed up on my radar to run it, as was the case for this year, originally. It turned out that getting to the starting line of a marathon, any marathon, was going to be a challenge. The Newport marathon turned out to be my "Plan C" marathon, when all else failed. What's funny is that it turned out to be one of my favorite marathon experiences ever, so in the end it all had played out as it should have.

As I began to taper from my never-ending training I was pretty tired and felt like the marathon party train had already passed me by. As everyone started heat acclimatizing on shorter distance runs, I had to pound out one final 20 mile run, which wasn't exactly what you would call a confidence booster. It was pretty ugly. Still, I was determined to finish a marathon, so off to Newport Oregon we went.

Not a lot of people seem to know where Newport Oregon is, and seriously, until I signed up for the marathon I had no real clue either. Newport is along Oregon's central coast, about halfway between Portland and Eugene. Its population is roughly about 10,000 people who rely primarily on fishing and tourism. Here is a map of the marathon course, which helps to describe the layout of Newport as it relates to the oceanfront area and the Yaquina Bay:

Newport marathon course

We stayed on the oceanfront in the Nye Beach area, but the majority of the course ran along the bay. The brief run along the oceanfront came within a block of the hotel. Ok, onwards to the race details!

The Newport marathon was capped at 1000 runners, but oddly enough my number was 1007. That mystery was never solved. I only know there was no line when I went to get my number in the 900+ section at the "expo". To be fair, they never called it an expo. They called it a "packet pick up". So that's pretty much what it was. Very disappointing. And no shirt. I'd have to wait until the finish line to get it. (One of my pet peeves). I know it's petty, but I obsess over things like the shirt not fitting and getting the right size and that's the last thing I want to take care of when I cross the finish line. Anyhow, the highlight of the "expo" was having a guy say, "Hey, aren't you Teresa from Luke's Locker in Dallas?" As it turns out this guy Jim Bob from Commerce Texas had just gone to Luke's the day before to get new shoes, said he was coming to Newport to run a marathon, and one of my co-workers mentioned that I was too. So he asks if I am fast runner. My co-worker, who I have not yet hunted down and beaten to a pulp, said, "No she's OLD and she's SLOW". Ouch. So we had a laugh about that because he and I are the same age, but I am thinking about this comment and really not laughing inside, because slow, I don't like to think I'm slow, although admittedly, I have slowed down, and it's a tough pill to swallow sometimes.

Come race morning I am not overly nervous, mainly because it's a low profile and stress free marathon, but also because what glimpses I have had of the course have left me excited about the scenery I am about to see. Toby and I drive a few miles down to the start in Yaquina Bay park, which is yet another breathtaking spot in Newport:

Without ANY fanfare at all, we were off and moving. I do prefer some fanfare, even if it's just the national anthem or a cannon or heck, even a cheap air horn would have been nice. Initially we headed towards the coast for a brief jaunt to the oceanfront:

This stretch was scenic, but tricky, with lots of sharp turns, steep ups and downs, and one brief section on a gravel road. We made our way back to the starting line, which normally would have annoyed me, but I really needed to re-visit this:

This time we headed in the opposite direction--out along the Yaquina bay for the remainder of the course.  At this point I'd seen Toby several times, but knew I wouldn't see him again until the turn-around point, around mile 15-16. This stretch of the course reminded me a lot of the Grandma's marathon, with the nice, gently rolling terrain, and peace and quiet that comes with no bands, no noise, and very few people. At about the time it became a little tiring the front runners were making their way back, so for the next several miles there was excitement in seeing fellow runners in the opposite direction. I high-fived Jim Bob as he came flying by.  Then I got excited because I knew I'd see Toby soon. He took this photo as I approached him, then handed me Gatorade, asked if I wanted my music (no, I was liking the quiet), and said I was looking good. I love this guy!

After that I knew I wouldn't see him until the finish, but knew the hard work was coming up, and sometimes it's best that your loved ones don't see that. ;)

I had been keeping my pace SLOW and steady for the majority of the race, which was between 9:00 and 9:15. I knew I couldn't hold anything better than that for very long, and it felt good and comfy up until mile 19, which was 9:19, so I changed the goal to sub-9:30 from there. I think my original comfy pace and focus was a little blown out by the stench and eventual visual of OYSTERS on the half shell, glistening in the sunlight, free for our taking! So after my stomach calmed down somewhere around  mile 22  I really needed a water stop and a gel. I heard a lot of noise up ahead, so I opened up my gel, thinking it was a water stop. It turned out to be a bunch of idiots banging on pots and pans, hooting and hollering--no water, nothing! Seriously? The sun was starting to get to me. The ugliness in me was clearly surfacing, so at the next stop I stopped to walk to take in the gel, lots of water, and regroup for the rest of the run. (And throw the pace goal out the window entirely--just finish). I got back to the business of running, keeping the ugly beast inside of me well contained for the remainder of the race.

Unlike Grandmas, there is no crowd build up leading to the finish. The last mile of this run is just as remote as the previous ones, with the illusion that the finish line is nowhere near. As you crest a final hill you finally see the finish line before you and before you know it it's all over.

I was given a gorgeous medal made out of recycled glass, and a goodie bag of snacks. And oh yeah, that finisher's shirt. It turned out to be a long sleeved zippered tech top--very cool! I quickly made my way to the clam chowder and the beer, yes! Toby snuck into the finishing area, which he should be allowed to do since he clearly earned it by taking care of his wife! He went and got a print out of my results, which showed that I ran a 4:07:58 chip time, came in 8th in my age group (50-54, i.e OLD) and 378th overall, which means maybe SLOW is a relative term these days. I'll take it. We chatted with Jim Bob, then hit the road for more fun and adventure along the Oregon coast.

Clam Chowder!!!

Meeting Jim Bob was certainly a highlight

In summary, this was probably one of the prettiest marathons I've done, and at #35 this is saying something.  It's also what I'd consider a "gentle" course, with a few hills, but overall pretty flat. I lucked out with the weather. June can be tricky, even this far north.  Mainly, Toby and I were surprised at the beauty of the coast in this area. We knew it was pretty, but not this pretty. There were so many places to see and not enough time. This is truly a bucket list marathon and a great place to visit, regardless.

Here is the link to the web-site if you are interested. FYI, it is a charity event.
http://www.newportmarathon.org/